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How to use a VPN to secure your public Wi-Fi connection

Seriously, that’s all there is to it. Public Wi-Fi is dangerous unless you use a VPN, so download one — preferably HMA! but I’m not picky — and turn it on whenever you connect. Why do we need a whole article for this? I’ve got better things to do, like trimming my ear hair. Or organizing my sunglasses collection.

But unlike DJ Khaled, I don’t get paid for not doing anything. So let’s get this over with.

What are the risks of Public Wi-Fi?

Your privacy can be invaded

Free hotspots are a godsend. But if you check your old testament you sometimes see God sends locusts, plagues, and floods, too. Unless these hotspots use encryption — and there’s really no guarantee that they do — public Wi-Fi networks expose everything you do online. And I mean everything: browsing and search history, private conversations, and even more serious stuff like login details or credit card info. If you’ve done it on your phone or laptop, someone can just waltz right in and start digging, and you probably won’t realize it.

Public Wi-Fi is full of vulnerabilities

Public hotspots are full of security holes, and hackers know exactly what they are and how to exploit them. Outdated software leaves them vulnerable to malware, so attackers can easily slip viruses, spyware, Trojans, or ransomware onto your device, without you knowing. And of course, sometimes hackers will just make their own public hotspots for people to use, and at that point you might as well just write down your pin number, tuck it into your wallet, and drop it in their laps.

To put it simply, bad guys like to hang out on public Wi-Fi just as much as you do, and it’s easy to see why. Without proper maintenance, strict security measures, and regular software updates, Wi-Fi hotspots are so easy to hack even a donkey could do it. And I mean… a literal, normal donkey. Albeit a morally compromised one.

How do hackers exploit Public Wi-Fi?

Criminal hackers don’t do a lot right, but at least they know how to give shit cool names.

Man-in-the-middle attacks - hackers exploit security holes to get between you and the websites you’re trying to access. This allows them to read all the info you send, from login details, to credit card info, and even your private messages to uncle Kevin to please stop sending you invites to join his Mamma Mia! fan group on Facebook.

Snooping and sniffing - Using special software and devices, hackers eavesdrop on Wi-Fi signals to get full access to your entire browsing history and any information you may have filled out, such as login credentials or credit card details. Somehow even more creepy than sniffing someone’s hair in public, and that’s a pretty low bar to clear.

Session hijacking - cookies are files on your computer that store your login details for a certain period of time (called a web session), so you don’t have to enter your username and password every time you open a website. And stealing this information is easier than you think. By hijacking your browser session, hackers can log in to your accounts and impersonate you.

Malicious or evil twin Wi-Fi hotspots - This was what I was talking about earlier. Hackers sometimes set up fake hotspots (for example: “Airport Wi-fi Free” at an airport) to trick you into connecting to them, so they can steal your information. But I’ve seen people do stupider things to get likes on instagram.

How do you stay safe on public WiFi?

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m pretty sure I answered that already. Are you even paying attention?

But let’s say a VPN killed your parents and you’ve sworn off them forever. Fine.

Protect your computer

Keep your firewall up, set your computer to avoid connecting with wifi networks automatically, and only use password-protected networks. Also, look out for any laptops with weird antenna or strange USB devices: that’s the kind of stuff that helps hackers do their “thing”. All of this won’t guarantee safety (hackers can get passwords from baristas too, after all), but it helps.

Turn off your connections

It’s also a good idea to turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth when you’re not using them, and to disable file sharing. This makes it more difficult for hackers to get their hands on your documents.

Make sure you're using HTTPS

While browsing, try to stick to websites that use encryption (these would be the ones starting in HTTPS instead of HTTP), and avoid logging into accounts that contain sensitive information. So your PayPal is a no, your FurAffinity account is fine, probably.

Use a VPN

But, it’s worth reiterating: a VPN takes the hassle out of being safe on public Wi-Fi. Simply turn it on and your connection will be encrypted so that no one can intercept your private chats, read your emails, see what you do online, or steal your personal information. Depending on what kind of stuff you get up to on public Wi-Fi, you might be doing both yourself and the hackers a favor by keeping that under wraps.

And hey, if you’re in the market for a VPN, here’s one you might enjoy. Personally recommended by me, Jack the Donkey. Wish I could say it’s the only VPN officially endorsed by a cartoon animal, TUNNELBEAR, but at least I got a trenchcoat.